By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AS she was honoured with three of her team-mates on Senior Day, Sydney Clarke felt it was only fitting to show her gratitude by securing a victory for the University of Arlington at Birmingham women’s tennis team.

On Saturday in their final home game at the Hoover Met Tennis Complex, Clarke pulled off a thrilling three-set victory for the Blazers as they knocked off Western Kentucky 4-2.

“It was exciting, but it was also sad at the same time,” said Clarke, who was honoured along with fellow senior players Adela Wasserbauerova, Annalisa Smith and Maggie White.

“It was a mixture of emotions because it started to sink in as the matches wrap up that this is my last year playing under UAB so it’s exciting, but also sad so I’m just soaking in the moment and just enjoying the win. It was a great day.”

Just before they started playing, there was a brief ceremony where the coaching staff presented the four graduating players with their flowers and a portrait of themselves.

Not only was it a gratifying feeling afterwards to push their record to 11-8, Clarke said it was even more satisfying to secure the victory in her singles.

Wasserbauerova, Vanessa Mellynchuck and Smith each earned straight-set victories, while Clarke had a three-set thriller to clinch the match in the finale with a 2-6, 6-0, 6-2 decision over Sayda Hernandez (WKU).

Clarke also teamed up with Wasserbauerova in doubles and they were leading Sofia Blanco and Sayda Hernandez of WKU 5-4, but the match was not completed.

“We played a really good team. All week we were looking forward to getting this win. So we were really happy for that,” Clarke said. “This team was very feisty, but we were able to outcompete them today, so that was good.”

The Blazers hit the road to Memphis to take on two AAC opponents in Memphis on Friday, March 29 at 3pm, followed by Wichita State on March 30 at 1pm.

“We started the season off rough, but we turned it around, so I’m hoping this week when we play Memphis and Wichita, two schools who are ranked at 50 and the other is 52, we hope that we can play them very well and get a ranking as a team,” she said.

“But as our match went on against Western Kentucky, we continue to get better. We are starting to peak. So I just hope that it continues as we move into conference play very soon.”

As for the entire day, Clarke said she enjoyed it thoroughly.

“We had a lot of support from the fans. They really pulled me through my match today, so I am really grateful for them coming out and supporting us,” she stated.

“And so it was nice to clinch the match on my big day when we closed out our season at home on Senior Day. That is something that I really appreciated. I was able to share the moment with my team-mates, the coaches and the fans on the sidelines.”

Clarke is a 22-year-old former student of CR Walker Secondary High and Windsor Academy, who is studying mass communication - broadcasting.

She is the oldest child of Shayvon and Bernard Clarke and her youngest sister Sarai Clarke is following in her footsteps as one of the country’s top junior female tennis players.